CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources 2009 4, No. 046 Review Factors affecting utility of Chilocorus nigritus (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as a biocontrol agent D.J. Ponsonby* Address: Ecology Research Group, Department of Geographical and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent. CT1 1QU, UK. *Correspondence: Email: [email protected] Received: 30 March 2009 Accepted: 25 June 2009 doi: 10.1079/PAVSNNR20094046 The electronic version of this article is the definitive one. It is located here: http://www.cababstractsplus.org/cabreviews g CAB International 2009 (Online ISSN 1749-8848) Abstract Chilocorus nigritus (F.) has been one of the most successful coccidophagous coccinellids in the history of classical biological control. It is an effective predator of many species of Diaspididae, some Coccidae and some Asterolecaniidae, with an ability to colonize a relatively wide range of tropical and sub-tropical environments. It appears to have few natural enemies, a rapid numerical response and an excellent capacity to coexist in stable relationships with parasitoids. A great deal of literature relating to its distribution, biology, ecology, mass rearing and prey preferences exists, but there is much ambiguity and the beetle sometimes inexplicably fails to establish, even when conditions are apparently favourable. This review brings together the key research relating to factors that affect its utility in biocontrol programmes, including its use in indoor landscapes and temperate glasshouses. Data are collated and interpreted and areas where knowledge is lacking are identified. Recommendations are made for prioritizing further research and improving its use in biocontrol programmes. Keywords: Chilocorus nigritus, Biological control, Prey relations, Glasshouses, Endosymbionts, Hemisarcoptes Review Methodology: Literature for this review was gathered by searching the databases CAB Abstracts, ISI Web of Knowledge, Science Direct, and the search engine, SCIRUS, using the key words Chilocorus, nigrita and nigritus. Older literature was sourced using JSTOR and reference lists in articles discovered by the databases. Introduction Members of the Diaspididae and Coccidae continue to be important pests of many crop species, often exhibiting Throughout the short history of classical biological extensive resistance to pesticides. Moreover, growing control, the coccidophagous ladybird, Chilocorus nigritus concerns over the effect of pesticides on biodiversity and (Fabricius, 1798) has featured prominently in a number of public health have led to the introduction of restrictive very successful programmes against mainly diaspidid pests legislation to control pesticide use and residues in food in (see Table 1 [1–29]). Consequently, it has become econ- many countries. These factors have led to an increased omically important in many parts of the world and two interest in biocontrol agents (BCAs) as part of integrated earlier reviews have examined its biology and economic pest management (IPM) and organic crop production value [19], and its ecology and biocontrol potential [30]. programmes. The strong success record of C. nigritus as a Fabricius originally named it Coccinella nigrita but Mulsant voracious, oligophagous BCA, linked to its considerable renamed it as Chilocorus nigritus in 1851 [19]. Technically, and expanding research literature demonstrates that it is nigrita should have been retained as the specific epithet extremely important as part of the natural enemy com- [22] and some workers continue to use this gender. Thus plex of a range of coccid prey in many parts of the world. it has become embedded in the literature under both This review examines the factors that affect its utility as a genders of the noun. BCA, discusses the possible reasons for successful and http://www.cababstractsplus.org/cabreviews Table 1 Attempts at the use of Chilocorus nigritus as a biological control agent and records of natural control 2 Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources Mean Mean humidity temperature (maxima, Introduction Native, Degree (maxima, minima) Source of rates (where introduced Biocontrol of Location and date minima) (C) (% RH) beetles known) Target pest species Host plant or invaded type success1 Reference India, 1910 ? ? Native Not applicable Aonidiella aurantii Maskell Citrus spp. Native Natural S [1] California and 37, 3 24, 91 India A. aurantii Citrus spp. Introduced Classical F? [1] Florida,1910 Sangi, Sulawesi, 34.7, 22.4 86, 67 Native Not applicable Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne Cocos Native Natural F [2] 1928–1933 nucifera L. Western Sri Lanka, 34.5, 20.7 74, 59 Native Not applicable Aspidiotus destructor C. nucifera Native Natural S [3] 1930s Signoret Seychelles, 30, 24 74, 79 Coimbatore, 400 adults Eucalymnatus tesselatus C. nucifera Introduced Classical U [4, 5] December 1938 India (Signoret) Chrysomphalus C http://www.cababstractsplus.org/cabreviews aonidum (L.) Ichnaspis longirostris C (Signoret) Pinnaspis buxi (Bouche´)C Mauritius, 30.4, 16.6 81,70 Sri Lanka 111 adults A. destructor C. nucifera Introduced Classical C [6] May 1939 Aulacaspis tegalensis Sugar cane Classical P [7] (Zehntner) Bermuda, 1947 27.2, 17.1 71, 81 Mauritius Carulaspis minima Juniperus Introduced Classical F [8] (Signoret) bermudiana L. Lepidosaphes newsteadi F (Sˇulc) California, 1948 37, 3 91, 24 Guangdong A. aurantii Citrus spp. Introduced Classical F [9] province, China Coimbatore, India, 34.7, 19.2 25, 83 Native Not applicable A. destructor C. nucifera Native IPM and S [10] 1954 A. aurantii Citrus spp.Augmentative S Parlatoria zizyphus Citrus spp. S (Lucas) Coccus viridis (Green) Coffea U arabica L. Agalega Islands, 30.6, 22.5 Mauritius Various scale insects Various Introduced Classical U [11] 1955 Chagos 31, 24 83 Mauritius 2000 adults Various scale insects Various Introduced Classical U [11] Archipelago, 1956, (mean) (1956) 1959 Diego Garcia, 31, 24 83 Mauritius A. destructor C. nucifera Introduced Classical M [12] October 1958 (mean) Hawaii (Oahu), 31.4, 18.6 81, 72 Chilaw, 12 adults Aspidiotus spp. ? Introduced Classical F [13, 14] October 1958 Sri Lanka Ramisi, Kenya 32.8, 19.3 85, 59 A. tegalensis Sugar cane Invaded Fortuitous P [15] and Arusha Chini, 27, 16 85, 35 Tanzania, 1968, 1969 West Pakistan, 38.7, 2.6 90, 19 Native Not applicable A. destructor ? Native Natural P [16] 1970 Aonidiella orientalis ?P (Newstead) Pinnaspis strachani ?P (Cooley) Diaspidiotus periniciosus ?P (Comstock) Hawaii (Oahu), 31.4, 18.6 81, 72 Agana, 35 adults A. destructor C. nucifera Introduced Classical U [14, 17] August 1971 Guam Vanuatu, April 1977 30.5, 22.1 84 Not applicable A. destructor C. nucifera Invaded Fortuitous S [18] (mean) Messina, Northern 29.1, 7.2 ? South Africa 1000 A. aurantii Citrus spp. Introduced Augmentative S [Anon in 19] Transvaal, April 1981 Nelspruit, South Africa, 29, 6 ? South Africa 20 000 eggs A. aurantii Citrus sinensis Introduced IPM F [20] December to (L.) Cv Augmentative February 1983 Valencia. Komatipoort, South 29, 5 ? South Africa 60 000 eggs A. aurantii C. sinensis Cv Introduced IPM S [20] http://www.cababstractsplus.org/cabreviews Africa, December Valencia. Augmentative to March 1983 Zimbabwe, 1980s 28.9, 5.5 70, 30 Not applicable A. aurantii Citrus spp. Invaded Fortuitous S [Whittaker, in 19] Oman, January, 32.4, 17.9 90, 50 Bangalore, 240, 276 and A. destructor C. nucifera Introduced Classical C [21] March and India 167 (total April 1985 683) adults San Miguel 33.9, 5.6 76, 54 Nelspruit, ? ? Introduced Classical U [22] de Tucuman, South Argentina, 1986 Africa Rehovot, Israel, 30.6, 6.7 63.3 Nelspruit, ? ? Introduced Classical U [22, 23] Feb 1987 (mean) South Africa Kachchh, India, 41.5, 11.8 81, 37 Native Not applicable Parlatoria blanchardi Pheonix Native Natural S [24] January to (Targioni-Tozzette) dactylifera L. December 1991 Bangalore and 34.2, 15.1 45, 76 Native Not applicable Drepanococcus chiton Zyziphus Native Natural M [25] Doddaballapur, (Green) mauritiana L. India, July 1991 to and Guava January 1992 UK, January to 27, 12 ? Rawalpindi, 2990 eggs Acutaspis umbonifera Wide range of Introduced Glasshouse, M [26] August 1993 Pakistan and 2548 (Newstead), P. buxi, tropical and Augmentative Glasshouses at adults Abgrallaspis cyanophylli temperate and IPM Royal Botanic (0.5 beetles (Signoret), Hemiberlesia species. Gardens Kew m72) lataniae (Signoret), Diaspis boiduvalii (Signoret), Coccus hesperidum L., Saissetia D.J. Ponsonby 3 coffeae (Walker) UK, February to ?, 17 ? Rawalpindi, 800 eggs and P. buxi, C. aonidum (L.), Wide range of Introduced Glasshouse, S [26] July 1993 Plantasia, Pakistan 325 adults Hemiberlesia palmae tropical and inundative Swansea (1.4 beetles (Cockerell), Ichnaspis temperate m72) longirostris, Saissetia species. coffeae, Bambusaspis bambusae (Boisduval) 4 Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources unsuccessful introductions, makes recommendations for future research and draws conclusions aimed at improv- ing its use in biocontrol programmes. Reference 1 Climatic Factors Degree of success Early records indicate the centre of origin of C. nigritus to be the Indian Sub-Continent [19, 22]. However, records prior to 1938 suggest that it was also indigenous to Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Vietnam and parts of China, its natural range being limited by the highlands and semi-desert of Biocontrol type the North-West frontier